What 'x' are you?, where x=sleep type
September 16, 2003 10:26 AM   Subscribe

Foetus, log, yearner, soldier, freefaller or starfish? And note that the percentages only add up to 89%, which either means that 11% of us are vampires that hang upside down from our ankles, or there's more ways of sleeping than I was aware of.
posted by yhbc (45 comments total)
 
And note that the percentages only add up to 89%, which either means that 11% of us are vampires that hang upside down from our ankles, or there's more ways of sleeping than I was aware of.

"The remainder of those in the poll said the position they fell asleep varied or did not know."

That said, I'm a Freefalling Foetus - I tend to alternate between the two.
posted by vorfeed at 10:31 AM on September 16, 2003


Thrasher.
posted by carter at 10:32 AM on September 16, 2003


Freefaller with a twist. I can only sleep if my bare feet are dangling off the bed, along with about six inches of shin.
posted by jonmc at 10:35 AM on September 16, 2003


Yeah, somewhere between Freefaller and Foetus, there's an Aleph-shaped arrangement: one foot drawn up, one extended out, one arm up, one down. That's the way to sleep, man, I tell you what.
posted by gleuschk at 10:37 AM on September 16, 2003


The yearner (13%): People who sleep on their side with both arms out in front are said to have an open nature, but can be suspicious, cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.

just about sums me up. whatever will they think of next?
posted by carfilhiot at 10:43 AM on September 16, 2003


Freefalling Foetus needs to be a band.

(Nothin' but Foetus for me, though. And why does that sound more depraved than it already is? I blame Reagan.)
posted by arto at 10:44 AM on September 16, 2003


I'm a starfish, and I'm married to a starfish, which means there is a great deal of entangling of starfish limbs in this relationship.

Sadly, it is true, as the article indicates, that I do tend to snore sometimes.
posted by taz at 10:48 AM on September 16, 2003


I agree w/ gleuschk - there *is* no other position for quality z's. There should be a 'scaler' category.
posted by yoga at 10:52 AM on September 16, 2003


I spent too much time looking for an extra link, so I may as well add it here, as yhbc beat me to the FPP...
How do you sleep?
posted by soyjoy at 10:56 AM on September 16, 2003


How would you even know this? Aren't you, by definition, asleep when you're asleep, and therefore unable to pay attention to the position of your body?

The personality-type assignments are so vague that this might as well be an emode quiz or a cereal-box astrological profile.
posted by Mars Saxman at 11:19 AM on September 16, 2003


I am a Starfish-Soldier: one arm bent up, one arm straight at my side.

"Starfish-Soldier" sounds more like an anime thing than a rock band, don't you think?
posted by briank at 11:29 AM on September 16, 2003


I'm a 5%er -- I end up in several positions throughout the night. But when I'm really tired I tend to end up a Soldier.
posted by me3dia at 11:30 AM on September 16, 2003


This is even stupider than horoscopes.
posted by andrewzipp at 11:43 AM on September 16, 2003


I'm a belly sleeper, and I think many of us draw one leg up.

The psychological profiles are generalized crap, but I simply cannot imagine sleeping any other way. I can't sleep on planes or in cars. I could not sleep if pregnant or in a hospital bed. How attached are you to your sleep position?
posted by rainbaby at 11:47 AM on September 16, 2003


50% freefall, and 50% K shape, laying on my (usually) left side with left arm curled under my pillow, left leg straight down, right (top) arm and leg curled up more fetus-style. I suppose that's a log/fetus hybrid. Anyone care to come up with a silly name for this?
posted by katieinshoes at 11:48 AM on September 16, 2003


taz, have either your or your husband ever regenerated a limb that was lost in that tangled mass of starfish appendages?
posted by iconomy at 11:53 AM on September 16, 2003


"The research also found that most people are unlikely to change their sleeping position."

That's only because they don't have one of those Tempur-Pedic pillows. I used to be a starfish (my hands always ended up above my head), but because of the way the pillow is shaped, my arms don't rest in a comfortable position. Now I'm either foetus or yearner.
posted by MsVader at 11:59 AM on September 16, 2003


I'm a freefaller, and I can't get comfortable without my hands stuffed under my pillow. I know I haven't always slept this way, but for the life of me I can't remember when I began, or why.

I especially like the duvet addendum at the bottom of the article. I, too, need a foot out of the duvet to get comfortable. It's like a temperature regulator - otherwise I feel like I may overheat in the middle of the night.

Following the link to the site of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, you find this page, Learn to sleep well. We could probably all use a little refinement of our sleeping technique.
posted by dammitjim at 12:03 PM on September 16, 2003


My sleep position has a definite effect on my social life.

posted by Shane at 12:17 PM on September 16, 2003


Foetus, Log, Yearner, Soldier, Freefaller and Starfish, attorneys at law.

Mostly a yearning fetus here.
posted by scody at 12:21 PM on September 16, 2003


I usually freefall to sleep - after that is anyone's guess, since I'm not usually concious when I'm asleep.
posted by Freaky at 1:01 PM on September 16, 2003


I alternate through several of the positions as I try to fall asleep, but usually end up a scaler.

I'd sometimes attempt to consciously remember what position I was in when I woke up, figuring that all I'd have to do is assume that position at night and falling asleep would be no problem. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to work, I have to go through a whole cycle of em before I finally settle and get to sleep.
posted by Driph at 1:01 PM on September 16, 2003


I usually fall asleep in a fetus (sorry, no alternate spelling) position because my wife complains about me snoring in my favorite position, what I woudl consider a modified soldier. Instead hands down at my side, they are folded across my chest like someone in a coffin. Now what does that mean?
posted by internal at 1:26 PM on September 16, 2003


dammitjim, I think you've nailed it on the foot-out-of-the-covers phenomenon. That's just how I feel, though I never thought it consciously. And driph, yeah, I rotate through a specific cycle; I can try to jump ahead in the pattern to get right to sleep, but it never works.

"Starfish-Soldier" sounds more like an anime thing than a rock band

Wasn't that an early Yes song?
posted by soyjoy at 1:26 PM on September 16, 2003


Freefaller here. If I sleep on my back (or reclining), I am very prone to either sleep walking or sleep paralysis. About 75% of the time for the latter. Not fun and I'm glad to have never needed an overnight hospital stay.
posted by Sangre Azul at 1:29 PM on September 16, 2003


Yeah, they missed a couple.


posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:33 PM on September 16, 2003


This is even stupider than horoscopes.

I can think of something stupider
posted by angry modem at 1:49 PM on September 16, 2003


internal, I fall asleep a fetus and wake up a modified soldier ("the KIA"). I like to think that means I've been pondering the circle of life in my sleep.
posted by hippugeek at 1:52 PM on September 16, 2003


Wasn't that an early Yes song?

i'm a gonna poppa you inna head.
posted by quonsar at 2:30 PM on September 16, 2003


they left out dead person...i'm either that or a soldier or yearner going to sleep, but usually wake up as a fetus a mumbler, too, i've been told

I wonder if there are people who don't move around and switch positions in their sleep?
posted by amberglow at 3:26 PM on September 16, 2003


amberglow: When I first got a web cam, I thought it would be hilarious to set it up in the bedroom and record a pic every few minutes while my husband and I slept (and it was hilarious BTW). My husband runs through all the sleep positions known to mankind, while I curl up in my little fetal ball on my right side, and that's the way I stay all night. Aside for the occasional and rare foot movement from under the covers for temperature control, which only seems to happen when the seasons start changing and the house temp isn't regulated quite right, I don't move at all ... which I thought was sort of weird.
posted by Orb at 5:14 PM on September 16, 2003


that is weird : >

are you a heavy sleeper? maybe that has something to do with it? (i don't think i am, unless i'm just dead-tired or was drinking that night)
posted by amberglow at 5:25 PM on September 16, 2003


also, i hope he's not a kicker...i hate that
posted by amberglow at 5:26 PM on September 16, 2003


In general, yes ... I am a very heavy sleeper, and I can sleep just about anywhere so long as I can curl up (rather cat-like of me). And yes, he kicks, he snores, his arms fall over me and suffocate me and all of it on a full-slosh waterbed. :D Good thing I love him so much (and sleep so soundly), otherwise I'd have made him sleep in another room YEARS ago.

I look forward to the day we get a real mattress and I won't be sleeping on the open seas anymore. LOL!
posted by Orb at 6:41 PM on September 16, 2003


A lifelong freefaller, I converted to the Mefitus™ position Crash illustrated above out of necessity during my first pregnancy. rainbaby, there is no way to sleep on your tummy with engorged boobs. ouch.

the Mefitus™ position is further enhanced by the placement of a pillow under the extended knee.
posted by whatnot at 7:29 PM on September 16, 2003


I can't get comfortable without my hands stuffed under my pillow.

Oooh, me too. Tucked under. If my little finger or the side of my hand so much as touches the open air, it's just not right.

the Mefitus™ position is further enhanced by the placement of a pillow under the extended knee.

Yes, I'm a classical Mefitus, too. With the extra pillow. And the large knots of blankets and sheets where my hands are supposed to be. And my ear has to be covered up too, either with hair exactly positioned, or the covers (but then they have to be tented just so, in order to provide the coverage needed without rubbing up and down when you breathe).

What?
posted by jokeefe at 10:40 PM on September 16, 2003


well that was amusing, picturing you all in your sleep positions. like scody i'm a fetus/yearner. i think i assume the yearner position a lot because my cats sleep up against the front of me so i can't get my knees up to full fetal, heh.

shane do you see a chiropractor...?

How would you even know this? Aren't you, by definition, asleep when you're asleep, and therefore unable to pay attention to the position of your body?

i suspect most everyone knows because they've asked or been told by their s/o's. that's how i can be sure, outside of guessing based on how i wake up each morn.
posted by t r a c y at 11:10 PM on September 16, 2003


Fetus for me. I need to have one pillow on each side to hug as I'm facing that side, I need to have at least a sheet that completely covers me (if it doesn't cover my feet that clown from Poltergeist might grab me), and I need to have the sheet between my knees. Also, I'm like a dog; I need to start on my left side, switch to my right side, switch back to my left, and so on, until I fall asleep.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:11 PM on September 16, 2003


Mefitus sounds like Sims position; watch your back.
posted by cookie-k at 11:17 PM on September 16, 2003


The more I thought about this last night (as I was going to sleep), the sillier the study seems. Asking people what position they sleep in all night long is ludicrous - They don't know, they're ASLEEP. It would be one thing if they had studied people sleeping, and then somehow objectively assessed their main personality traits, but asking people to self-report on both correlatives is just not in any way scientifically valid.

That said, I'm a Mefitus too! (At least when I fall asleep.)
posted by pomegranate at 7:25 AM on September 17, 2003


you're right pomegranate--orb's webcam experiment was far more scientific than this study was--groovier too ; >

it's fun, tho, in a soda/pop way.
posted by amberglow at 8:34 AM on September 17, 2003


I'm a modified soldier, too (arms on belly or chest usually) but I don't choose the position based so much on psychological comfort as physical comfort - lying on my front hurts my neck since it has to be turned sideways to breathe (I think I'd happily be a freefaller if I slept on a massage table) and lying on my side puts too much pressure on my hip. I sometimes try the fetal position with a pillow between my knees, but I can't stay that way for particularly long. I fall asleep and wake up on my back, although I do a lot of switching around while trying to fall asleep (even though I know I won't fall asleep until I'm on my back - every night I think, well maybe this once...)

Supposedly sleep paralysis is what keeps us from acting out our dreams, so you would think motionless sleeping wouldn't be uncommon... maybe we just move in between REM cycles or something?
posted by mdn at 8:40 AM on September 17, 2003


Also a MeFitus here. With that being so apparently prevalent, why doesn't it show up in the list of most common?
posted by rusty at 8:42 AM on September 17, 2003


The "mefitus" position also looks a lot like the First Aid "recovery" position.
posted by mdn at 11:49 AM on September 17, 2003


Some of us just don't sleep - sleep is for the weak.
posted by FormlessOne at 12:56 PM on September 17, 2003


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